Film makers of the future bring screen to life

From serious documentary to comedy reflecting student life to vampires in the middle of rural Ireland, it was all to be seen at the second annual showcase of the BSc in Media Arts of the University of Ulster’s Magee campus. Speaking ahead of the showcase course director Tom Maguire spoke of the immense level of talent generated by students on the course. He also spoke of the newly opened creative industries institute which will pull together resources across academic and industry-based companies to create better opportunities for new graduates within the creative industries.

In all there were eight short films on show covering a number of a wide range of themes and issues. Although not all of the film’s on show are dedicated to hard hitting issues, what is noticeable is that the students; although not all local, have made their work from within the local community and in many cases about the local community. It would be unfair for Culture Journal to single out any one of these in particular for praise or criticism. Suficit to say that the quality was indeed reflective of professor Maguire’s high praise, the films on display showed a level of quality, imagination and creativity that bodes well for the future of local talent in the northwest.